Button for headwear

ABSTRACT

Firm engagement to headwear and a versatile look of headwear may be improved by a button for headwear that includes an upper plate portion, a pillar portion extending from the upper plate portion and provided with a first catching projection, a lower plate portion, and a projection portion extending from the lower plate portion and provided with a second catching projection holding the first catching projection.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Generally, the present invention relates to headwear and/or its button. More particularly, the present invention relates to a button for headwear disposed at an uppermost part of a crown portion of the headwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Usually a button is provided to headwear at its top in order to enhance its aesthetic features, since headwear, which is usually fabricated by combining a plurality of fabric panels that meet at the top portion thereof, is weakest at the top portion in terms of aesthetics.

[0003] Such a button usually consists of upper and lower parts, which are fitted together at the top of the crown portion of the headwear. The button should be firmly fixed to the crown portion of the headwear, but according to the prior art, such fixing of the button for headwear is not sufficiently firm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Therefore, the motivation for the present invention is to provide a button for headwear that has a non-limiting advantage of firm engagement to the headwear and that accordingly provides an improved commercial grade of headwear.

[0005] An exemplary button for headwear according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an upper plate portion, a pillar portion extending from the upper plate portion and provided with a first catching projection, a lower plate portion, and a projection portion extending from the lower plate portion and provided with a second catching projection for holding the first catching projection.

[0006] Preferably, the pillar portion is provided with a cavity such that the first catching projection is formed in the cavity, and the projection portion is inserted in the cavity such that the projection portion becomes firmly engaged with the first catching projection formed in the cavity.

[0007] It is preferable that the exemplary button for headwear further includes a fixing ring fitted between the pillar portion and the upper plate portion such that the fixing ring firmly holds a fabric cover covering the upper plate portion by pressurizing the fabric cover toward an interior side of the upper plate portion.

[0008] For headwear that includes a crown portion formed by combination of a plurality of fabric panels, it is preferable that the upper plate portion is combined to the crown portion from outside of the crown portion at its combination center of the plurality of the fabric panels, the pillar portion penetrating the crown portion, and the lower plate portion is disposed inside of the crown portion at the combination center of the plurality of fabric panels.

[0009] Another exemplary button for headwear according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a cap including an upper plate portion having a free circumferential end and a pillar portion projecting from the upper plate portion, the pillar portion having a cavity formed therein, wherein a first catching projection is formed in the cavity; a locking pin including a lower plate portion of a predetermined size and a projection portion projecting from the lower plate portion, the projection portion being inserted into the cavity, the projection portion having a second catching projection conjoining with the first catching projection in the cavity such that the locking pin is firmly held to the cap; a fabric cover covering the cap; and a fixing ring fitted to the pillar portion of the cap, an exterior of the fixing ring being in contact with the free circumferential end of the cap, such that the fabric cover is firmly held to the cap.

[0010] In a further embodiment, a holding protrusion for preventing escaping of the fixing ring is provided at an exterior circumference of the pillar portion of the cap.

[0011] In another further embodiment, the free circumferential end of the upper plate portion has elasticity and it is rounded toward its center such that the fixing ring can be in contact thereto.

[0012] In a yet another further embodiment, the first catching projection of the cap comprises a first screw thread, the second catching projection of the locking pin comprises a second screw thread, and the first and second catching projections are screw-engaged by the first and second screw threads.

[0013] It is further preferable that a movement restriction cavity is provided inside of the cavity of the pillar portion of the cap, and a movement restriction projection is provided at the projection portion of the locking pin, such that the movement restriction projection is fitted into the movement restriction cavity.

[0014] It is also preferable that a holding protrusion for preventing escaping of the fixing ring is provided at an exterior circumference of the pillar portion of the cap.

[0015] It is also preferable that the free circumferential end of the upper plate portion has elasticity and it is rounded toward its center such that the fixing ring can be in contact thereto.

[0016] In a yet another embodiment, a fitting protrusion is provided toward the cavity at the upper plate portion, and a fitting cavity for receiving the fitting protrusion is provided at a center of the projection portion of the locking pin.

[0017] It is further preferable that a holding protrusion for preventing escaping of the fixing ring is provided at an exterior circumference of the pillar portion of the cap.

[0018] It is also preferable that the free circumferential end of the upper plate portion has elasticity and it is rounded toward its center such that the fixing ring can be in contact thereto.

[0019] According to a button for headwear of the embodiments of the present invention, a fabric cover is disposed outside of a cap to cover the cap, and a fixing ring is engaged with a pillar portion of the cap such that the fixing ring comes into tight contact with a free circumferential end of an upper plate portion of the cap so as to firmly hold the fabric cover on the cap.

[0020] Such a cap is disposed at an exterior side of a crown portion that includes a plurality of fabric panels, and a locking pin is disposed at an interior side of the crown portion. A projection portion of the locking pin is inserted or screw-engaged into a cavity of the pillar portion of the cap.

[0021] Catching projections respectively formed at the pillar portion and the projection portion become engaged with each other such that the pillar portion and the projection portion become locked together.

[0022] In the case that the projection portion of the locking pin is screw-engaged with the cavity of the cap, a movement restriction projection fitting into a movement restriction cavity enables fixing the locking pin to the cap, preventing escaping of the locking pin from the cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:

[0024]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of headwear for showing overall features thereof;

[0025]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 along a line A-A according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of FIG. 2;

[0027]FIG. 4 is a sectional exploded view of FIG. 1 along a line A-A according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 5 illustrates an engaged state of elements shown in FIG. 4;

[0029]FIG. 6 is a sectional exploded view of FIG. 1 along a line A-A according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a locking pin in FIG. 6 according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

[0031]FIG. 8 illustrates an engaged state of elements shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of headwear for showing overall features thereof.

[0034] The headwear includes a crown portion 1 for being worn on a head of a wearer and a visor portion 3 projecting from the crown portion 1. A button 5 is engaged with the crown portion at a top central position thereof.

[0035] The crown portion 1 is fabricated by a plurality of fabric panels, e.g., by sewing. The fabric panels meet at the top center of the crown portion, and a hole (not shown) may be formed there such that the button 5 may be engaged therethrough.

[0036]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the button 5 in FIG. 1 along a line A-A according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an exploded view of FIG. 2.

[0037] The button 5 includes a cap 7 exteriorly disposed at an upper side of the crown portion 1 and a locking pin 9 that is engaged with the cap 7 and is disposed at an interior side of the crown portion 1. A fabric cover 11 covers an exterior surface of the cap 7, and a fixing ring 13 is engaged with the cap 7 so as to firmly hold the fabric cover 11 at the cap 7.

[0038] The cap 7 is provided with an upper plate portion 15 having a free circumferential end that is extended from a center of the portion 15. A pillar portion 17 extends from the upper plate portion 15. The free circumferential end of the upper plate portion 15 is rounded toward its center so as to have elasticity in the direction toward the center.

[0039] In addition, the pillar portion 17 is provided with a cavity 17 a formed in the extending direction (or width direction) thereof, and a plurality of first catching projections 17 b are provided on an interior circumference of the cavity 17 a. The first catching projections 17 b of the cavity 17 a are preferably inclined toward the top center of the cap 7.

[0040] In addition, a holding protrusion 17 c is formed on an exterior circumference of the pillar portion 17 so as to hold engagement of the fixing ring 13 and thereby to prevent escaping thereof. The holding protrusion 17 c is preferably formed in an inclined fashion so as to enable both easy engagement and difficult disengagement of the fixing ring 13.

[0041] The holding protrusion 17 c is shown as a pair in FIG. 2, however it is notable that only one holding protrusion, e.g., one elongated around the exterior circumference of the pillar portion 17, may be enough for its proper functioning, and the holding protrusion may also be formed by more than two thereof.

[0042] The locking pin 9 includes a lower plate portion 19, and a projection portion 21 extends from the lower plate portion 19 near its center. The projection portion 21 of the locking pin 9 is provided with a plurality of second catching projections 21 a on its exterior circumference so as to maintain engagement with the first catching projections 17 b when the projection portion is fitted into the cavity 17 a.

[0043] The fixing ring 13 is fitted between the pillar portion 17 of the cap 7 and the free circumferential end of the cap 7 such that it is elastically supported by the free circumferential end. In more detail, according to the elasticity of the circumferential end of the cap 7, the fixing ring 13 may pressurize the fabric cover 11 toward the free circumferential end and thereby firmly hold the fabric cover 11 thereon.

[0044] The fabric cover 11 may be made of a variety of cloths and may have a variety of colors, such that the button 5 for headwear may have a variety of colors and designs.

[0045] According to such an embodiment of the present invention, the fabric cover 11 is firstly manipulated to fully cover the exterior surface of the cap 7, and then the fixing ring is inserted through the pillar portion In this process, an interior circumference of the fixing ring 13 passes over the holding protrusion 17 c on the pillar portion 17, and accordingly the fixing ring 13 is locked in its position. At the same time, the fixing ring 13 also forms, at its exterior circumference, a tight contact with the free circumferential end of the cap 7. Therefore, the fabric cover 11 becomes tightly held between the exterior circumference of the fixing ring 13 and the free circumferential end of the cap 7, by the elastic support of the free circumferential end of the cap 7.

[0046] Such a cap 7 is disposed at an exterior side of the crown portion 1, and the locking pin 9 is disposed at an interior side of the crown portion 1. The projection portion 21 of the locking pin 9 penetrates a hole formed at the top of the crown portion 1, and is inserted into the cavity 17 a formed at the pillar portion 17 of the cap 7.

[0047] At this time, the second catching projections 21 a of the projection portion engage with the first catching projection 17 b provided at the cavity 17 a of the cap 7, and accordingly, the locking pin 9 is firmly engaged with the cap 7.

[0048] According to such engagement structure, the button 5 is firmly fixed to the headwear, and the fabric cover 11 covering the cap 7 is firmly held by the fixing ring 13. Accordingly, the commercial grade of the headwear is enhanced.

[0049]FIG. 4 is a sectional exploded view of FIG. 1 along a line A-A according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 illustrates an engaged state of elements shown in FIG. 4. In FIGS. 4 and 5, a cap 7, a locking pin 9, a fabric cover 11, and a fixing ring 13 according to a second embodiment of the present invention are shown.

[0050] In the description and drawings in connection with the second embodiment, elements of the second embodiment correspondent to elements of the first embodiment are referenced with the same reference numbers as in the first embodiment, for illustrational purposes and for better comprehension of the second embodiment. Only the features of the second embodiment differentiated from those of the first embodiment are described hereinafter, and unexplained features of the second embodiment can be obviously understood from the description of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the cavity 17 a provided at the pillar portion 17 of the cap 7 is a threaded cavity having a first screw thread (or screw groove) 41. The locking pin 9 is provided with a second screw thread 43 at the exterior circumference of the projection portion 21. Therefore, the projection portion 21 of the locking pin 9 can be screw-engaged into the threaded cavity 17 a of the pillar portion 17, and accordingly the cap 7 and the locking pin 9 are firmly engaged. From this variation, it should be understood that the present invention may be embodied in a variety of forms.

[0052] In addition, a movement restriction cavity 45 is formed in a circumferential direction on the interior circumference of the pillar portion 17, and a movement restriction projection 47 is provided on the exterior circumference of the projection portion 21 of the locking pin 9 such that it can be fitted into the movement restriction cavity 45.

[0053] According to such a movement restriction cavity 45 and a movement restriction projection 47, the locking pin 9 is prevented from rotating with respect to the cap 7 and remains firmly engaged thereto when the cap 7 and the locking pin 9 are fully screw-engaged together. In this way, the possibility that the locking pin 9 escapes from the cap 7 is reduced and accordingly the commercial grade of the headwear is enhanced.

[0054]FIG. 6 is a sectional exploded view of FIG. 1 along a line A-A according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a locking pin in FIG. 6 according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 illustrates an engaged state of elements shown in FIG. 6. In FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, a cap 7, a locking pin 9, a fabric cover 11, and a fixing ring 13 according to a second embodiment of the present invention are shown.

[0055] In the description and drawings in connection with the third embodiment, elements of the third embodiment correspondent to elements of the first embodiment are referenced with the same reference numbers as in the first embodiment, for illustrational purposes and for better comprehension of the third embodiment. Only the features of the third embodiment differentiated from those of the first embodiment are described hereinafter, and unexplained features of the third embodiment can be obviously understood from the description of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] According to the third embodiment of the present invention, a fitting protrusion 61 protrudes in the cavity 17 a provided at the pillar portion 17 of the cap 7, and a fitting cavity 63 for receiving the fitting protrusion 61 is formed at an approximate center of the projection portion 21 of the locking pin 9.

[0057] The projection portion 21 is split into two or more columns (shown as three in FIG. 7) to form the fitting cavity 63 therebetween. A first catching projection 65 is formed around the inside wall of the cavity 17 a provided at the pillar portion 17 of the cap 7, and a second catching projection 67 is formed at the projection portion 21 of the locking pin 9 such that the first and second catching projections 65 and 67 are engaged together when the projection portion 21 is inserted into the cavity 17 a.

[0058] When the projection portion 21 is inserted into the cavity 17 a, the fitting protrusion 61 in the cavity 17 a of the pillar portion 17 is inserted into the fitting cavity 63 of the projection portion 21 of the locking pin 9, and accordingly, the projection portion 21 expands in a radial direction so as to enable firm engagement of the first and second catching projections 65 and 67 that are respectively formed at the pillar portion 17 and the projection portion 21.

[0059] From this variation, it should be understood that the present invention may be embodied in a variety of forms. The third embodiment of the present invention also shows the effects as described in connection with the first embodiment.

[0060] As shown above, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pillar portion at an upper plate portion and a projection portion at a lower plate portion are respectively provided with first and second catching projections such that the catching projections can engage together, and therefore, the upper and lower plate portions can be firmly engaged together interposing the crown portion of the headwear, which in turn improves the commercial grade of the headwear.

[0061] In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a fabric cover that covers a button for the headwear can be firmly held, which also in turn improves the commercial grade of the headwear. Such commercial grade may be further improved since the fabric cover may be designed in a variety of fashions so as to enable the design of the entire headwear to have a variety of fashions.

[0062] While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A button for headwear comprising: an upper plate portion; a pillar portion extending from the upper plate portion and provided with a first catching projection; a lower plate portion; and a projection portion extending from the lower plate portion and provided with a second catching projection holding the first catching projection.
 2. The button of claim 1, wherein: the pillar portion is provided with a cavity such that the first catching projection is formed in the cavity; and the projection portion is inserted in the cavity such that the projection portion becomes firmly engaged with the first catching projection formed in the cavity.
 3. The button of claim 1, further comprising a fixing ring fitted between the pillar portion and the upper plate portion such that the fixing ring firmly holds a fabric cover covering the upper plate portion by pressurizing the fabric cover toward an interior side of the upper plate portion.
 4. The button of claim 1, wherein: the headwear comprises a crown portion formed by combination of a plurality of fabric panels; the upper plate portion is combined to the crown portion from outside of the crown portion at its combination center of the plurality of the fabric panels; the pillar portion penetrates the crown portion; and the lower plate portion is disposed inside of the crown portion at its combination center of the plurality of the fabric panels.
 5. A button for headwear, comprising: a cap including an upper plate portion having a free circumferential end and a pillar portion projecting from the upper plate portion, the pillar portion having a cavity formed therein, wherein a first catching projection is formed in the cavity; a locking pin including a lower plate portion of a predetermined size and a projection portion projecting from the lower plate portion, the projection portion being inserted into the cavity, the projection portion having a second catching projection conjoining with the first catching projection in the cavity such that the locking pin is firmly held to the cap; a fabric cover covering the cap; and a fixing ring fitted to the pillar portion of the cap, an exterior of the fixing ring being in contact with the free circumference end of the cap, such that the fabric cover is firmly held to the cap.
 6. The button of claim 5, wherein a holding protrusion for preventing escaping of the fixing ring is provided at an exterior circumference of the pillar portion of the cap.
 7. The button of claim 5, wherein the free circumferential end of the upper plate portion has elasticity and it is rounded toward its center such that the fixing ring can be in contact thereto.
 8. The button of claim 5, wherein: the first catching projection of the cap comprises a first screw thread; the second catching projection of the locking pin comprises a second screw thread; and the first and second catching projections are screw engaged by the first and second screw threads.
 9. The button of claim 8, wherein a movement restriction cavity is provided inside of the cavity of the pillar portion of the cap, and a movement restriction projection is provided at the projection portion of the locking pin, such that the movement restriction projection is fitted into the movement restriction cavity.
 10. The button of claim 8, wherein a holding protrusion for preventing escaping of the fixing ring is provided at an exterior circumference of the pillar portion of the cap.
 11. The button of claim 8, wherein the free circumferential end of the upper plate portion has elasticity and it is rounded toward its center such that the fixing ring can be in contact thereto.
 12. The button of claim 5, wherein a fitting protrusion is provided toward the cavity at the upper plate portion; and a fitting cavity for receiving the fitting protrusion is provided at a center of the projection portion of the locking pin.
 13. The button of claim 12, wherein a holding protrusion for preventing escaping of the fixing ring is provided at an exterior circumference of the pillar portion of the cap.
 14. The button of claim 12, wherein the free circumferential end of the upper plate portion has elasticity and it is rounded toward its center such that the fixing ring can be in contact thereto. 